Snap fastened end-closure for toy containers and the like



Dec. 15, 1964 w. MoLEoD 3,161,345

SNAP FASTENED END-CLosURE FOR TOY CONTAINERS AND THE: LIKE Filed March 12. 1963 INVENTOR W/LL//M/ Mc [00 BY mf, f/Mmam 477)5 United States Patent Glilice ll ?atented Dec. l5, 11%64 lold SNAP FSTENEB END-CLSURE FR TY CQNTAINERS AND THE LiKE William McLeod, Dceriield, lill., assigner to idaisam Products Company, Chicago, ill., a corporation ot Illinois Filed Mar. 12, i963, Sei'. No. 264,558 3 Claims. (Si. 2129-45) The present invention relates to containers of the type customarily used to store toy parts or the like, and more particularly to snap fastened end-closures 'for such containers.

Certain toys are comprised of multiple parts, for example, the minature parts in a scaled down skyscraper. These toy parts are customarily stored in a tubular type container constructed of cardboard, plastic and other container materials and fitted at the respective opposite ends with frictionally engaging covers or end-closures. Accordingly, the containers and covers must be constructed to close tolerances for desired lit. Furthermore, if a locked lit is desired, as for example, at the bottom of a container which is not repeatedly removed, adhesive must be applied at the cover-container joint or like specialized work must be performed at the joint. Of course, the greater the requirement for detailed attention to constructing the containers, the more expensive it is to manufacture them.

It is accordingly :an object of the present invention to provide `an end closure for toy containers and the like which snap astens and does not depend upon friction forces for remaining engaged with the container body portion. Along these lines, it is an object of the present invention to provide a unitary construction end-closure which positively locks into position as a part of installation and does not require specialized work at the joint of the end-closure and container.

It is an object of the present invention in one of its more specific embodiments to provide an end-closure which can be unseated to open the container end for removing or replacing contents therein Without completely disengaging the end-closure from the container.

Itis an overall object of the present invention to provide a snap fastened container end-closure easily adaptable for installation in containers for toys and the like of various shapes and which is economical to manufacture and simple to install.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent upon reading the following detailed description and upon reference to the drawings in which:

FIGURE l is a perspective of one end of a container constructed in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a partial section taken along 2--2 in FlG. l with the container and end-closure assembled;

FIG. 3 is a perspective of an alternative embodiment of a container end constructed in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a partial section taken along 4 4 in FIG. 3 with the container and end-closure assembled;

FIG. 5 is -a perspective of an alternative embodiment of a container end constructed in accordance with the present invention showing an end-closure especially adapted for use as a container top; and

FIG. 6 is a partial section taken along S-S in FIG. 5 with the container iand end-closure assembled.

While the invention will be described in connection with several preferred embodiments, it Will be understood that l do not intend to limit the invention to such embodiments, but on the contrary, I intend to cover all alternatives, modifications and equivalents as may be included Within the spirit and scope of the invention as delined by the appended claims.

Turning to the drawings, there is shown in FG. 1 one end of a container l@ having a body portion 11 and an end-closure l2 embodying the present invention. The closure l2 is receivable at an open end 14 of the container body portion ll. In the present instance, both the tubular container body portion and end-closure `are of generally rectangular cross section and manufactured of material connnonly used in container construction, such as, plastic, cardboard, sheet metal and the like.

In accordance with the present invention, the endclosnre i2; is fastened to the container body portion 1l by a snap fastening assembly 17 which includes openings in the container body portion il axially aligning with biased projections carried by supp rt means anchored to the endclosure. ln the present instance, the snap fastening assembly 7 includes four openings indicated at 1S, 19, Ztl and 2l in the continer body portion 1l and four buttonlike projections, two of which are indicated at 24, 25 carried on a support means, the latter taking the form of a plurality of arms or tabs 2?, 2E, 2E? and 3d, each carrying a respective one of the plurality of button-like projections. To reinforce the container end and also to anchor the plurality or" arms, the end-closure is provided with a peripheral flange 3l. juxtaposed, in the present instance, the inside walls of the container body. portion 1l. As is appreciated by those skilled in the art, the projections can be carried on other structures rather than the arms specilied, for example the flange 3l. The exemplary projections 24, 25 are biased in an outward direction both by the outwardly directed construction of the respective support means Z7, 28, 29, Si? and also by respective brackets 32, 33, 34, 35 acting as cantilevers against the respective supporting arms.

To facilitate snap fastening of the end-closure l2 into position through a camming action and also to effect detenting of the end-closure thereby prevening unintentional dislodgrnent, the button-like projections are each provided with an inclined end structure as best shown in FIG. 2 thereby functioning as barbs. To explain, the inclined end allows the projections to easily slip into the end of the container body portion lll and then slide along the container body portion inner Wall until the respective projection snaps into register with its complementary opening in the container body portion. Thereafter the barbed construction of the projections provides a bearing surface as shown at 24a so that the end-closure l2 is held attached even with application of substantial forces to disengage it. The end-closure can be intentionally removed by prying the tabs and the projections therewith outwardly with respect to the openings.

In the preferred embodiment, the openings 18, 19, 20 and 2l are positioned a predetermined Iaxial distance from the end of the container body portion to receive the projections which are positioned a like predetermined distance from an end-closure base 34. Thus, when the endclosure l2 is tted into the container open end 14, the projections will snap into the receiving opening automatically. Those skilled in the art understand that the projections could be supported on the end-closure 12 so as to enter the container body portion openings 18, 19, 20, 21 from the outside instead of the inside.V As shown in the drawings, the end-closure structure is provided with an extension, to protect the edge of the container 'body portion in the present instance, a lip 36 on the periphery of the end-closure juxtaposed the outside wall of the container body portion 11.

Another embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. 3. The container body portion 37 there shown is of circular cross section as is an end-closure 38 receivable in container body portion open end 39. A snap fastening assembly 17a for retaining the end-closure 38 in a fastened position includes three openings 40, 41, 42 in the container Vbody portion 37 and three projections, exemplary ones 44, 45 being shown, carried on a support means, in the present instance threeupright arms l 46, 47, 48. The arms 46, 47, 48'project from an anchoring annular llange 49 mounted on an end-closure base 50. For biasing the projections outwardly, the annular flange 49 and support arms 46, 47, 48 are constructed of relatively thick springable material, for example, plastic. Accordingly, when the end-closure 38 is installed into the container open end 39, the projections snapinto register with the respective body portion openings 40, 41, 42 to fasten the end-closure 38 to container body portion 37. As is shown in FIG. 3, the openings 41, 42 are generally elliptical in shape so as to facilitate fastening the end-closure. Accurate alignment of projections and openings is not required in initial installation of the end-closure because the major axis dimension of the openings is larger than the like dimension of the respective projections. It is clear to those skilled in the art that the endclosure could be snap fastened Vin accordance with the teachings of the present invention by providing a projection on only one of the support arms 46, 47, 48. The other arms could even be eliminated and the end-closure could still be fastened Yin position. The'button-like projections 44, are also provided with inclined ends to eect camming action for installing the end-closure easier and maintaining it detented against lunintentional dislodgment. -Y

The end-closures 12 and 38 shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and V4 are especially useful at the bottom of a containerbe- Cause the end-closure locks in theY installed position and can withstand substantial forces directed to separating or disengaging it from the container body portion. Also the bottom edge of the container body portion 37 is protected from damage by extending the end-closure base, in the preferred embodiment, an integral lip 37a is provided juxtaposed the tubular container body portion edge.

Turning to FIGS. 5 and 6, there shown is is an alternative embodiment of the present invention which is especially adapted for use atthe top of a container. There shown is the container body portion 37 of circular cross section with an open end 51 and having an endclosure 52 fastened to the container body portion by an assembly 54. The preferred embodiment Vof the snap fastening assembly 54 includes a pair of opposed container body portion openings 55, 56 and a pair of projections 58, 59 receivable in the openings and carried by support means, arms 60, 6l. To maintain the projections in the openings, in the present instance biased opposed protuberances are provided on the projection ends, exemplary ones 62, 63 are shown on projection 60. The protuberances can be bent toward a slot 64. Explaining installation, with the protuberances normally positioned the projections 58, 59 are larger than the receiving openings 55, 56. Upon initial insertion of a projection, the protuberances are bent towardvthe slot, after insertion of the projection has been completed, the protuberances snap back and seat against the container body portion inside wall providing a snap fastening for retaining the end-closure in position. It is, of course, within the knowledge of those skilled in the art to have the container material at the openings flex to receive the projections instead of requiring the protuberances to flex.

An additional feature of the preferred embodiment of FIGS. 5 and 6 is that the container can be opened without disengaging or separating the end-closure from the container body portion. To this end the arms 60,'61 are constructed of flexible material so that either one of the arms can be disengaged by pulling on a respective one of a pair of thumb flaps 65, 66. The end-closure 52 can then be removed to open the container by lifting it and flexing the arm which is maintained fastened whereupon the end-closure can be rotated to a position at the side of the container.'

Though plastic has been suggested as a material for constructing the end-closures 12, 38 and 52 along with their integral parts, other wear resistant and generally flexible materials can be used to provide an end-closure which will maintain the container .end closed and edges protected while allowing the end-closure to be selectively detented in desired positions or pryed free. As can be seen from the foregoing, the present end-closure locking assembly allows the use of either simple or intricate shapes for end-closures and container body portions and has a wide variety of uses.

I claim as my invention: Y

1. In a container, the combination comprising, a con# tainer body portion having an open end with at least a pair of opposed openings a predetermined axial distance from said body portion open end, an end-closure receivable at said container body portion open end and substantially closing said end when fitted thereto, said endclosure having at least a pair of flexible support arms extending axially along said container body portion outer wall, a projection carried on each'ofsaid arms, said projections positioned to register with respective ones of said openings upon installation of said end-closure, and biased opposed protuberances atv said projection ends for retaining said projections in said openings upon insertion of said projections into said openings thereby retaining said end-closure installed.

2. In a container for toys or the like, the combination comprising, a tubular body portion of paper board or the like having an open end defined by a presented edge lyingV in a plane perpendicular to the container axis, a closure of flexible plastic material dimensioned to snugly telescope Within the open end of the container and having anintegral lip formed thereon which seats upon the presented edgeof the'container when the closure is fully concerted, said 1' closure having integrally formed thereon a plurality of axially extending tabs at substantially equally spaced integrals about its periphery along said b ody portion outer wall, each of said tabs having a button-like projection formed thereon and projecting perpendicularly thereto, said container body providing a plurality of openings spaced' from said presented edge a sufficient distance to register with said button-like projections when Asaid tabs occupy a position parallel to thewall of the container body so that the button-like projections register with said openings, said button-like projections being formed so as to snap into said openings with detent action thereby to prevent unintentional dislodgement of the closure while permitting the same to be intentionally removed by prying said tabsl outwardly with respect to the openings in which they are'received.

3. In a container for toys orthelike, the combination comprising, a tubular body portion of' paper board or the like vhaving an openend defined by a presented edge lying in a plane perpendicular'to the container axis, a closure of flexible plastic material dirnensioned to snugly telescope within then open end of the container and having an integral lip formed thereon which seats upon the presented edgeof the container when the closure is fully concerted, said closure havingV integrally formed thereon a plurality of axially extending tabs at ,substantially equally spaced integrals about its periphery, each of said tabs having a buttonelike projection formed thereon and projecting perpendicularly thereto, said container body providing a plurality of openings spaced from said presented edge a suicient distance to register with said button-like projections when said tabs occupy a position parallel to the Wall of the container body so that the button-like projections register with said openings, said button-like projections having biased opposed protuberances at their ends to effect a camming action for telescopically advancing said closure into said tubular body portion and being formed so as to snap into said openings with detent action thereby to prevent unintentional dislodgement of the closure While permitting the same to be intentionally removed by prying the said tabs outwardly with respect to the openings in which they are received.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 320,814 6/85 Pollard 220-60 746,328 12/03 Harvey 220-60 X 2,690,947 10/54 Roehrl 220--60 X 2,839,214 6/58 Crane 220--60 X 2,880,262 3/59 Bell 220-60 X 3,023,925 3/62 Sher 220-60 GEORGE O. RALSTON, Primary Examiner. 

1. IN A CONTAINER, THE COMBINATION COMPRISING, A CONTAINER BODY PORTION HAVING AN OPEN END WITH AT LEAST A PAIR OF OPPOSED OPENINGS A PREDETERMINED AXIAL DISTANCE FROM SAID BODY PORTION OPEN END, AN END-CLOSURE RECEIVABLE AT SAID CONTAINER BODY PORTION OPEN END AND SUBSTANTIALLY CLOSING SAID END WHEN FITTED THERETO, SAID ENDCLOSURE HAVING AT LEAST A PAIR OF FLEXIBLE SUPPORT ARMS EXTENDING AXIALLY ALONG SAID CONTAINER BODY PORTION OUTER WALL, A PROJECTION CARRIED ON EACH OF SAID ARMS, SAID PROJECTIONS POSITIONED TO REGISTER WITH RESPECTIVE ONES OF SAID OPENINGS UPON INSTALLATION OF SAID END-CLOSURE, AND BIASED OPPOSED PROTUBERANCES AT SAID PROJECTION ENDS FOR RETAINING SAID PROJECTIONS IN SAID OPENINGS UPON INSERTION OF SAID PROJECTIONS INTO SAID OPENINGS THEREBY RETAINING SAID END-CLOSURE INSTALLED. 